What Part Will You Play?

I recently heard Pardis Sabeti share about the 2014 Ebola virus and how it fueled mistrust, distraction, and division in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Check it out.

In light of what Sabeti shares, I see a lot of spiritual similarities between the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak our our current global pandemic. Our collective COVID-19 experience has:
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• Exposed a deep sense of mistrust of the people God has placed around us
• Amplified distractions aimed toward self and away from Jesus and His call on our lives
• Magnified already existing divisions which make us wonder if we can ever have a meaningful conversation with someone, again.

Let's be honest - all of this was already there before COVID. But, as a result of distancing and isolation combined with the pre-existing growing mistrust of seemingly everything and everybody, for some, it has been easier to become cynical, check-out and hide, and remain silent.

I'm reminded of Isaiah 58:11-12.

The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
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Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Here are three ways you can consider joining God's work of repairing broken walls and restoring streets with dwellings.
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• Repair the Ruins of Burned Bridges and Broken Trust - Last summer, my friend, Ashley shared with 20,000+ students that "we can be real because Jesus is real". If you're struggling with trusting others around you, take a deep breath. Be real about it. Admit it to yourself. Cry over it. Be heartbroken. You're not alone. It probably isn't the first time it's happened. It will surely not be the last. Psalm 34:18 says that God is near to the brokenhearted. That's great news! And let's remember that it begins with rekindling simple friendship. You can read more about building trust in friendships here.

 

• Bring Focus in a Life of Distraction - Honest question - who guides your life? Peers? A boss? A parent? The voice inside your head of someone long ago? You? Psalm 17:8 says that we are the apple of God's eye. Jesus doesn't give up on us. No! Rather, Jesus keeps his eyes on us when on the cross and even today, His eye is on us as God's loved children. Where is your focus, today - and could it be that Jesus' love and grace is more eye-catching than all the other distractions around us?

• Become Unified in the World of Division - Unity seems to be part of an old foundation that exists in history books, yeah? Yet, Psalm 133:1 says how good and pleasant it is when we live together in unity. People from a variety of races, people groups, nationalities, languages and dialects, and socio-economic backgrounds would say these words on their way up the temple steps to worship. It was as if they were mindfully and intentionally setting aside everything that separated them in the eyes of other people to rally around the age-old foundation of Yahweh. . . the One who invited them into a relationship with the God of the universe.

Being real with ourselves with our broken ruins of friendships around us and committing to repairing these broken walls in our lives. Looking to the love and grace of Jesus who is more attractive than anything else in this human experience. And, rallying around the age-old foundation of Yahweh - the One who invites you and me into a relationship with the God of the universe.

All of this - it's God's work in our lives so that He can do His live in and work through our lives.

And each of us gets to be part of it.

Remember that The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Trusting that God is guiding you and you have God's strength, the question is, what part will you choose to play, today?

Love you more than you know. -pt